2K Games and Firaxis are now offering pre-sales of XCOM: Enemy Unknown, their upcoming continuation of the strategic elements of the XCOM series of counter-UFO games. This is available through various digital distributors and includes the incentive of the Elite Soldier pack, which offers "top-of-the-line soldier customization features" they say "will only be available while supplies last" (can you exhaust a supply of digital content?). They also announce that those who pre-purchase the game through Steam have the opportunity to unlock incentives based on the number of other preorders: "If enough people pre-order XCOM: Enemy Unknown , they will unlock 3 exclusive XCOM-themed items in Team Fortress 2. If even more people pre-order, they will unlock a free copy of Firaxis’s other big title, Civilization V (and yes, you can gift it to a friend if you already own it)." Finally, with about a month to go before the game's release, they provide us with its system requirements:

At a minimum I would have stacked up my squad behind that building that the sectoids were hiding in then breached and swept across the map laterally- that's not even a great strategy, it's just what the geometry of the map dictates.

If I were feeling frisky I would have left my sniper at the entrance for a possible flank against a reacting opfor.

Damn, I was on the fence and thinking about holding off on this purchase... but after ten minutes of gameplay I was sold on the pre-order.

I agree- hopefully the game gets harder/bigger in the last half.

According to them it was being played on normal with an option to make it harder by going hard core. I love that option. Since death is permanent it makes it so much more painful losing a trained soldier.

Yifes wrote on Sep 8, 2012, 19:12:Good video. The only thing I don't like is the small map and squad sizes. Now you can't bring a skyranger full of rookie cannon fodder with you

I agree- hopefully the game gets harder/bigger in the last half.

That dev team was making massive mistakes and still winning. They should have been cut to ribbons in a crossfire in that construction yard- the enemy AI is very uncoordinated.

They had it on 'normal' difficulty. In a different video they play it on 'Impossible' Difficulty and get desimated pretty handedly as they should. Apparently there's Easy->Normal->Classic->Impossible difficulties so far, as well as Iron man mode :), they go onto say that noone has beaten the game so far on Ironman/Impossible mode yet (just a matter of time of course but still good to know)

Prez wrote on Sep 7, 2012, 13:45:I'm on a very slow network right now so I can't watch the Steam videos at the moment, but I have to say that the batch of screenshots there are quite disheartening - I'm not getting a classic Xcom vibe at all. Hopefully it's just a case of the screens being picked more for their visual punch than their representation of the actual gameplay.

Prez:Check out that hour long gameplay video they released recently. (skip around if you dont want to watch the whole thing). I was pleasantly surprised by how fun it looks. While it does change the formula a bit, I think they've captured a lot of what made xcom good stuff.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VP4YmExQAE

Xenonauts looks like a more faithful remake, but this one looks like it will be more fun IMHO.

Good video. The only thing I don't like is the small map and squad sizes. Now you can't bring a skyranger full of rookie cannon fodder with you

Prez wrote on Sep 7, 2012, 13:45:I'm on a very slow network right now so I can't watch the Steam videos at the moment, but I have to say that the batch of screenshots there are quite disheartening - I'm not getting a classic Xcom vibe at all. Hopefully it's just a case of the screens being picked more for their visual punch than their representation of the actual gameplay.

Prez:Check out that hour long gameplay video they released recently. (skip around if you dont want to watch the whole thing). I was pleasantly surprised by how fun it looks. While it does change the formula a bit, I think they've captured a lot of what made xcom good stuff.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VP4YmExQAE

Xenonauts looks like a more faithful remake, but this one looks like it will be more fun IMHO.

Good video. Looks like I'm sold on pre-ordering

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Prez wrote on Sep 7, 2012, 13:45:I'm on a very slow network right now so I can't watch the Steam videos at the moment, but I have to say that the batch of screenshots there are quite disheartening - I'm not getting a classic Xcom vibe at all. Hopefully it's just a case of the screens being picked more for their visual punch than their representation of the actual gameplay.

Prez:Check out that hour long gameplay video they released recently. (skip around if you dont want to watch the whole thing). I was pleasantly surprised by how fun it looks. While it does change the formula a bit, I think they've captured a lot of what made xcom good stuff.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VP4YmExQAE

Xenonauts looks like a more faithful remake, but this one looks like it will be more fun IMHO.

Also, I have been able to watch the various videos and my fears have been allayed somewhat about XCOM. Since someone mentioned Xenonauts though I have to say I'm actually more interested in it than XCOM. Given that Firaxis is behind this "re-imagining " (I'm really starting to dislike that term) it's at least worth keeping an eye on.

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Paranoid Jack wrote on Sep 7, 2012, 21:37:I own and have messed around with all the old games but unfortunately never had a chance to play them all when they were in their prime. I doubt they will ever be able to recreate or recapture what was so special about most of the old games we loved simple because the technology has moved so far beyond the standards of old. Back then you had to use your imagination more. Today's games do much more of that for you with their shiny imaging.

Not saying you can't use DOSBox or whatever to have a good time playing old games. I do it myself from time to time. And occasionally I have an awesome time too. Its just never the same. You can't turn back time and you can't put the genie back in the bottle. At least I've never had the same satisfaction when I do dig out an oldie and play it now while comparing the experience to my memories of the first time. It is in part due to the so called rose colored glasses effect. Its just hard to go back once you've played so many games with flashy modern graphics.

I think the last TBS I loved warts and all was Silent Storm. After playing it through almost three times Sentinels came out and I played it through but I was less satisfied since they didn't really expand on the original.

That said... I like what I've seen with this remake or re-imaging to be more precise. I will most likely purchase this before the release. Wishing there were a demo out. I plan on watching the let's play type videos a bit later. Still at this time the only thing I can think about is GW2 and/or DayZ.

Well said! I agree that when i was younger and the graphics not quite as pretty, that my imagination kicked into high gear leaving inflated results.

HOWEVER XCOM is one of those games that when i replay my imagination (being in my mid 30's) still kicks into gear and lets me run wild. What i'm so excited about this 'Reimagination' as others like to call it is that its not some cookie cutter Xcom copy (Xenonauts), why would i want to play that when i can play the original that has so much more built in memories?

This new XCOM game looks different, but i'm betting that the most important thing remains similar, gameplay. Other aspects such as the more cinematic approach is actually what excites me believe it or not. Older you get less your imagination kicks in, this is where i'm betting (really really hoping) that firaxis will come through.

The other idea's such as the Ant farm style base building as me absolutely giddy with antisipation! I'm so happy that this isnt a carbon copy, but expanded upon in meaningful ways. I couldnt of picked a better turn based strategy company to do an Xcom 'reimagination' if i tried. I have really high hopes for this one. If it indeed bombs its Prozac/Zoloft cocktails for about half a decade for me

I own and have messed around with all the old games but unfortunately never had a chance to play them all when they were in their prime. I doubt they will ever be able to recreate or recapture what was so special about most of the old games we loved simple because the technology has moved so far beyond the standards of old. Back then you had to use your imagination more. Today's games do much more of that for you with their shiny imaging.

Not saying you can't use DOSBox or whatever to have a good time playing old games. I do it myself from time to time. And occasionally I have an awesome time too. Its just never the same. You can't turn back time and you can't put the genie back in the bottle. At least I've never had the same satisfaction when I do dig out an oldie and play it now while comparing the experience to my memories of the first time. It is in part due to the so called rose colored glasses effect. Its just hard to go back once you've played so many games with flashy modern graphics.

I think the last TBS I loved warts and all was Silent Storm. After playing it through almost three times Sentinels came out and I played it through but I was less satisfied since they didn't really expand on the original.

That said... I like what I've seen with this remake or re-imaging to be more precise. I will most likely purchase this before the release. Wishing there were a demo out. I plan on watching the let's play type videos a bit later. Still at this time the only thing I can think about is GW2 and/or DayZ.

I funded Xenonauts kickstarter and I have to say it is the old Xcom as we want it and it even improves on it in some areas. The Cold War setting is also a good fit as well. Like others here I am not getting the Xcom vibe from this remake. I'll wait for reviews from the community before I take the plunge on this one.

Prez wrote on Sep 7, 2012, 13:45:I'm on a very slow network right now so I can't watch the Steam videos at the moment, but I have to say that the batch of screenshots there are quite disheartening - I'm not getting a classic Xcom vibe at all. Hopefully it's just a case of the screens being picked more for their visual punch than their representation of the actual gameplay.

It's a reimagining of Xcom, not an actual remake. For the remake, you need to look at Xenonauts.